Breaking down Knowshon Moreno's deal with the Dolphins

Matthew Emmons / USA Today Sports

This 2009 first-round pick finally blossomed, producing his first 1,000-yard rushing season as Denver's featured back. The 35 touchdowns he's scored the past five seasons hints this 26-year-old potentially has more to give an NFL team. But why the slow start?

This 2009 first-round pick finally blossomed, producing his first 1,000-yard rushing season as Denver's featured back. The 35 touchdowns he's scored the past five seasons hints this 26-year-old potentially has more to give an NFL team. But why the slow start? (Matthew Emmons / USA Today Sports)

Moreno, who is expected to compete with Lamar Miller for the starting spot, signed a one-year deal that featured a $500,000 signing bonus, and makes $750,000 of his $1,975,000 base salary fully guaranteed.

If you add on Moreno's $25,000 workout bonus for OTA and minicamp participation the Dolphins have only firmly committed $2.5 million to the former Broncos starter.

However, Moreno will receive an additional $200,000 if he makes the 53-man roster, which is likely considering his skill-set and the competition he faces. And he gets another $300,000 in per game bonuses, which pays him an additional $18,750 for every game he plays in this season.

So at the max Moreno will receiver $3 million from the Dolphins, but not all of that is guaranteed. If he's cut at before the season opener he'll only be paid $1.25 million by the Dolphins.

If Moreno, who rushed for 1,038 yards and 10 touchdowns for the Broncos last season, and also had 60 receptions for 548 yards and three touchdowns, replicates that type of season for the Dolphins he's a steal.

If Moreno suffers an injury, or isn't as good as one of the backs on Miami's roster, or someone they select in the draft, it will be no big deal to cut him. Last year the Dolphins committed $1 million to offensive guard Lance Louis and he never made the 53-man roster.

No matter how you look at Moreno's new contract he's still making nearly twice what he was paid last season ($755,000) in the final year of his rookie deal with the Broncos.